Sprint king Usain Bolt, Australia’s secret weapon for the Ashes

The Jamaican track superstar, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m and eight-time Olympic champion, Usain Bolt is working with the Australian batsmen to improve their “explosiveness” off the mark.

Australia’s cricketers have called Usain Bolt to boost their running between the wickets during the Ashes Test series against England.

On the reason behind him helping the Australians out, Bolt revealed, “It’s all about explosiveness, and that’s one thing I’ve noticed with cricket”.

“They don’t really have a lot of explosiveness when they’re running. They seem to always take off at a slow rate. Getting that right will definitely help people,” he said.

Bolt, who retired from athletics after August’s World Championships in London, said he was trying to increase the awareness of running while batting.

Australia’s middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb spoke about the session with Bolt and welcomed the tips they received.

“He was giving us a few pointers on how to get a little bit faster,” Australia’s middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb said of his session with the speedster.

“We’ll give it a crack. He was trying to get us nice and low in the turn and in and out. The first couple of steps are key and if we can get them right, we’ll be fast,” he said.

“Obviously he’s the fastest man ever so if we can have the title with him, that’d be cool,” Handscomb added.

Bolt also showed off his batting technique, posing on his follow through a demonstrating a textbook high left-elbow in Brisbane.

The retired sprinter is currently recovering from a hamstring injury but has flirted with the idea of moving into other sports since hanging up his running spikes.

The Jamaican was in Melbourne for Spring Carnival festivities and maintains he is serious about his mooted trial with German football club Borussia Dortmund once regains his fitness levels.